Pandagon is daily opinion blog covering feminism, politics, and pop culture. Come for the politics, stay for the complete lack of patience for the B.S. and bad faith coming from conservative leaders and pundits.

Ann Richards: He-Man Woman Hater

“Feminists” are up in arms about Obama’s latest assault on women, an insult so grave that I wonder if he hasn’t permanently ruined all chance at winning the general:

This is from the transcript of the appearance: “[B]ecause of the campaign that Hillary Clinton waged, my daughters and all of your daughters will forever know that there is no barrier to who they are and what they can be in the United States of America. They can take for granted that women can do anything that the boys can do (cheers begin) — and do it better, and do it in heels. I still (Obama laughs) — I still don’t know how she does it in heels.”

How he could possibly make a reference to a Democratic woman in high heels and think anyone could possibly take it as an innocent, respectful comment? I initially thought that Obama’s comment was just a reference to the fact that Clinton’s gender placed other specific burdens on her that none of the male candidates had to face, but I also thought that Robin Williams just had a lot of energy in the 70s.

Her persona was always unconventional. When she was nearly 60, a grandmother and governor of Texas, Richards took to riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle because, she said, “I thought I needed to do something kind of jazzy.”

Another line she often quoted summed up her view of the aspirations of women in politics: “Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”

About the Author

Jesse Taylor is an attorney and blogger from the great state of Ohio. He founded Pandagon in July, 2002, and has also served on the campaign and in the administration of former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. He focuses on politics, race, law and pop culture, as well as the odd personal digression when the mood strikes.